Silvestre: 'Shaw is over-thinking his full-back role'

Luke Shaw is over-thinking his full back role at Manchester United and causing himself problems.

Former Reds left back Mikael Silvestre has identified the sticking point that the 21-year-old needs to overcome to convince manager Jose Mourinho of his Old Trafford future.

Shaw's roller-coaster career with Mourinho has seen him back in the starting XI at Sunderland but omitted from the side against Anderlecht and Chelsea when Matteo Darmian was chosen ahead of him.

It has been a traumatic time for the former Southampton prodigy.

But Silvestre, who won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League in Alex Ferguson's era, doesn't believe Shaw will throw in the towel.

"I think he is over thinking. That's his problem," Mikael said. "United's full backs are there to defend, obviously, but then it is about going forward, charging ahead and putting in good crosses in and helping your team build attacks.

"But Luke isn't doing that any more. He is thinking twice about whether he should go or not. Should I stay, should I go? His mind is in turmoil.

"He should just go because the other guys are going to cover for him. His best attributes for me are when he is going forward and helping with the attack. In the last third he should be getting to the byline. That's what Manchester United full backs do. He needs to get back to doing that without thinking about it."

On Mourinho's publin criticism of Shaw, Silvestre added: "It is tough. It is a test of character. He doesn't appear to me to be a player who will give up easily. I hope he doesn't give in and I don't expect him to."